Groom admits to punching brother-in-law at wedding

WOODSTOCK – The groom who was arrested after what police called a drunken brawl at his wedding reception in Huntley was sentenced to two years of probation Tuesday.

Sean T. Kelly, 26, of Northbrook, pleaded guilty to battery for punching his new brother-in-law, who also was his roommate, in the face July 26.

In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors dropped felony charges alleging that Kelly had six guns and 39 rounds of ammunition in his trunk without a valid Firearm Owners Identification Card.

A misdemeanor domestic battery charge was changed to battery.

Kelly also was fined $250 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, which is considered served in light of the time he spent in jail while the case was pending.

Huntley police said they were called to a home on Nicollet Lane about 6:50 p.m. to find several family members yelling at each other.

As he was being arrested, Kelly told police he wanted to move items from his trunk to a more secure location; those items turned out to be weapons.

Kelly’s defense attorney, Assistant Public Defender Richard Behof, said Kelly did not realize his FOID card was revoked after an earlier aggravated battery charge had been reduced to battery. The lesser charge allowed Kelly to keep his FOID card, but Kelly didn’t realize he had to notify the state police of the case’s result, Behof said.

Kelly was being responsible by addressing the weapons in July, Behof said.

“He didn’t want to leave them on the street, in his trunk,” Behof said.